The history of the famous Edict of Nantes containing an account of all the persecutions that have been in France from its first publication to this present time : faithfully extracted from all the publick and private memoirs, that could possibly be procured / printed first in French, by the authority of the states of Holland and West-Friezland, and now translated into English.

Secret Articles of the 17th of September, 1577.

I. HIS Majesty to gratify the King of Navar, shall allow him, besides what is granted by the General Articles to the Sieurs high Justicers of the said Religion, to cause Divine Service to be perform'd for all such as shall be willing to assist at it, altho he be absent himself, in the Houses belonging to him in the following places; viz. in the Dutchy of Vende∣mois, in the City of M••ntoire.

II. His said Majesty shall likewise allow the Prince of Conde to have the said exercise perform'd in his house of la Ferte, upon the River Loire and An∣guien, tho absent from thence himself.

III. Upon the Article which men∣tions Baliwicks, has been declar'd and granted what follows. First, That under the Denomination of Ancient Bailiwicks, his Majesty means such as were held under the Reign of the late King Henry, for Bailiwicks, Senes∣chalships, and Governments, refer∣ring directly, and without Mediati∣on to the Courts of Parliament.

Secondly, That in Bailiwicks, and Seneschalships, in which those of the said Religion possess at this present two Cities or Towns, belonging to his said Majesty, or to Catholick Lords, High Justicers, in which they are allowed to continue the Exercise, of their Religion, no other Place shall be provided for them to per∣form the said Exercise in, as in the other Bailiwicks of this Kingdom.

Thirdly, That his Majesty shall on∣ly provide two Cities in the Govern∣ment of Piccardy, in the Suburbs of which, those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the exercise of their said Religion, for all the Bailiwicks, Seneschalships, and Governments belonging thereunto; and in default of Cities, they shall be allow'd two convenient Towns or Villages.

Fourthly, In consideration of the large Extent of the Seneschalships of Provence and Poictou, those of the said Religion are allow'd another Ci∣ty in every one of them, in the Sub∣urbs of which, or in default of a City, a convenient Town or Vil∣lage, they shall have the exercise of the said Religion, besides those that

shall be allow'd them by the said Article.

IV. It has also been agreed, That no place shall be allow'd by virtue of the said Article, on the Territo∣ries belonging in proper to the Queen Mother to his Majesty, for the publick Exercise of the said Re∣ligion: Nevertheless, such Gentle∣men as have high Judicatures, or Fiefs de Haubert in the said Territo∣ries, shall be free to enjoy and make use of the permission that shall be al∣low'd them by the Edict, as elsewhere.

V. Neither shall any place be pro∣vided in the Bailiwick of Beaujolois, belonging to the Duke of Montpen∣cier; but the said High Justicers shall enjoy the Privilege of the Edict there as elsewhere.

VI. A place shall be appointed for all the Isles of Marennes, and another for the Isle of Oleron, in which two places those of the said Religion shall be allow'd the exercise thereof, for all such Inhabitants of the two Isles, as shall desire to assist at it.

VII. Provision shall also be made for the County of Messin, and others that are under the King's Protecti∣on, as it was done by the secret Ar∣ticles made with the Edict of the Year 1570.

VIII. As for the Marriage of Priests and Religious Persons that have been contracted heretofore, his Majesty for divers good Reasons and Consi∣derations him thereunto moving, will not allow them to be prosecu∣ted or troubled for the same; upon which subject silence shall be impos'd to his said Attorney-Generals and o∣ther Officers. His Majesty declaring however, that the Children proceed∣ing from the said Marriages, shall only succeed to the Movables, Acqui∣sitions, and Purchas'd Estates of their Fathers and Mothers; not wil∣ling that the said Profess'd Religious Persons should be capable of a direct or collateral Succession. Neither will his Majesty allow, that those of the said Religion having heretofore contracted Marriages in the third or fourth degree, should be molested for the same, or the Validity thereof call'd to question, nor likewise the Succession taken from, or disputed against the Children born or to be born, descending from the said Mar∣riages: And in order to judge of the Validity of the said Marriages made and contracted by those of the said Religion, and to decide whether they are lawful or not, if the person of the said Religion is Defendant, in that case the Judges Royal shall take cognizance of the Fact of the said Marriage; and he being Plaintiff, and the Defendant a Catholick, the Cognizance thereof shall belong to the Official and Ecclesiastical Judge; for which Letters-Patent shall be granted by his said Majesty, to be ve∣rified in his Courts of Parliament.

IX. And as to Marriages already treated of, either of second or others, among those of the said Religion, those that shall have contracted Mar∣riages in such a degree, in that kind applying themselves to his Majesty, such Letters-Patent shall be granted them, as shall be necessary to hinder them or their Children from being prosecuted or molested for the same.

X. Upon what has been granted by the General Articles, That in each of the Parliaments of Paris, Roa••,

Dijon, and Rennes, a Chamber shall be e∣stablish'd, compos'd of a President and a certain number of Counsellors, taken and chosen out of the said Courts; it has been thought fit and agreed up∣on, in order to remove all cause of Jealousy from those of the said Religion, and therein to gratifie the most humble Petition they have made to his Majesty about it; That the Presidents and Counsellors shall be chosen by his said Majesty upon the Register of the Officers of the said Parliaments, among the most equi∣table, most peaceable, and most mo∣derate; the List whereof shall be communicated to the Deputies of the said King of Navarre, and to those of the said Religion who shall be near his Majesty, before their being or∣dain'd to serve in the said Chambers; and that in case they shall suspect any of them, it shall be lawful for them to acquaint his Majesty therewith, who shall chuse others in their stead.

XI. The same shall be observ'd in the Election of the Catholick Offi∣cers that are to serve in the Cham∣bers, that shall be establish'd in the Countries of Guienne, Languedoc, Dauphine, and Provence.

XII. As to what relates to the Ele∣ction of those of the said Religion, for the Offices of Presidents, and Coun∣sellors that shall be erected by the said Edict to serve in the said Chambers, it has been agreed, That it shall be made by his Majesty upon the Atte∣station of the said King of Navarre, for the first time, and without taking any Money for the same; and that upon any Vacation, his said Majesty shall provide other capable persons in their room, being of the said Religi∣on.

XIII. And whereas those of the said Religion have alledg'd several reasons for which they suspect those of the Court of Parliament of Roan, which made them very solicitous to have a Chamber establish'd there, as in the Parliaments of Bourdeaux, Thoulouse, and Dauphine; in order not to make that Parliament differ from those of Paris, Dijon, and Rennes, it has been granted to those of the said Religion, having any Suits depend∣ing in the said Parliament, in case they will not receive those of the Chamber that shall be erected there for Judges, to apply themselves to his said Majesty, and Letters of Transferation shall be allow'd them by him, in the Chamber of the Par∣liament of Paris, ordain'd for the Administration of Justice to those of the said Religion, or to the Great Council, for Processes mov'd, or to be mov'd, before any Plea in the Cause; bringing good and due At∣testations along with them, of their being of the said pretended Reform'd Religion.

XIV. His said Majesty also wills and means, That the said Chambers, compos'd and establish'd in the said Parliaments, for the distribution of Justice to those of the said Religion, shall be reunited and incorporated in the said Parliaments, when need shall require; and when the Causes which have mov'd his said Majesty to establish them shall cease, and shall no longer subsist among his sub∣jects.

XV. To those ends, the Presi∣dents and Counsellors who shall be invested with the Offices newly crea∣ted into the said Chambers, shall be

nam'd Presidents and Counsellors of the Courts of Parliament, each in that into which they shall be esta∣blish'd, and reckon'd in the number of the Presidents and Counsellors of the said Courts; and shall enjoy the same Salaries, Authorities, Preroga∣tives as the Presidents and Coun∣sellors of the other Courts.

XVI. The Examination of which Presidents and Counsellors newly chosen, shall be made by his Maje∣sty's Privy Council or by the said Chambers, each one within its Pre∣cinct, when there shall be a sufficient Number of them; and yet the ac∣custom'd Oath shall be taken by them in the Courts where the said Cham∣bers shall be establish'd; except those of the said Chamber of Languedoc, who shall take it before the Lord Chancellor, or in the said Chamber when it shall be establish'd.

XVII. In the said Chamber of Languedoc, there shall be two Substi∣tutes of his Majesties Attorny and Advocate. The Attorney's shall be a Catholick, and the other of the aforesaid Religion, who shall have sufficient Salaries from his said Ma∣jesty.

XVIII. There shall also be two Committees of the Parliament of Thoulouse; the one Civil, the other Criminal, which the Registers shall be responsible for.

XIX. Moreover some Messengers shall be appointed, who shall be taken out of the said Court, or else∣where, according to the King's plea∣sure, as many as shall be necessary for the Service of the said Chamber.

XX. The Session of which shall be appointed by his Majesty, and re∣mov'd to such Cities and Parts of the said Country of Languedoc, as his said Majesty shall think fit, for the convenience of his Subjects.

XXI. Whereas those of the said Religion have made complaints, that from the Publication of the Edict made in the year 1572. to the day of the Publication of this that shall be now, there have been several Pre∣scriptions, Nonsuits, or Judgments, given against those of the said Reli∣gion, in places where the Suits have neither been heard, nor defended; and that tho they have desired a remo∣val to the Party-Chambers, it has been denied them: It is granted them, that in case they can give suf∣ficient proof of the same, they shall be receiv'd in their first Condition a∣gain.

XXII. Likewise upon the Remon∣strances that have been made by the King of Navar, and the Prince of Conde, that they are sued by several of those, who during the Troubles, have bought Temporal Estates be∣longing to the Church, requesting that no Actions may be allow'd the Purchasers against them, or any of those, who by their Command have made the Contracts of the said Sales. It is granted to them in his said Majesties Name, that all neces∣sary Letters Patent, to discharge and indemnify them for the said Sales, shall be particularly expedited for them; on condition that the money shall be reimburs'd, as it is specifi'd in the General Articles of the E∣dict.

XXIII. His Majesty shall promise and swear to observe and maintain the Edict that shall be made upon

the said General Articles, and to let those of the said Religion, and o∣thers that have been ingag'd in their Party, injoy the benefit of the same: He shall also oblige the Queen his Mother, and the Duke of Anjou his Brother, to promise and swear to keep and observe the said Edict.

XXIV. The same shall be done by the King of Navar, and the Prince of Conde.

XXV. All which Promises and Oaths shall be made in writing, sign'd by the Hands, and seal'd with the Arms of those that shall make them, the which shall be reciprocally put and deliver'd into the hands of his Majesty, and of the said King of Navar, or such as shall be by them deputed to receive them.

XXVI. The said King of Navar shall be allow'd, after the Conclu∣sion of the Peace, to send to the Queen of England, and to Duke John Casimir, to acquaint them therewith, and Passes and Convoys shall be gi∣ven by his Majesty to those that shall be sent thither by the King of Navar.

XXVII. All such of the said Re∣ligion as are still in possession of Be∣nifices, shall be oblig'd to resign them within the space of Six Months to Catholicks; and those who have promises of Pensions upon the said Benefices, dated before the 24th of August, 1572. shall be henceforward paid for the same, and the payment of the said Pensions continued; and those who owe the said Pensions, shall be oblig'd to pay the Arrears, in case any are due, provided they have actually injoy'd the Fruits of the said Benefices, excepting the Arrears due in the time of the Trou∣bles.

XXVIII. And as for those who are not of the said Religion, yet have follow'd them during the time of the Troubles, they shall re-enter in∣to the same Possession and Injoy∣ment of their Benefices, as they had before the 24th of August, 1572. And those who by private Authori∣ty, without order, or gift from his Majesty, have enjoy'd and receiv'd the Fruits of the said Benefices be∣longing to the abovemention'd, shall be oblig'd to return it to them, and to resettle them into the same.

XXIX. Upon the Request of those of the said Religion, and others, who have been ingag'd in their Par∣ty, to annihilate all the Bonds, Notes, and Promises made by them, together with all Judgments given upon the same against them, upon the account of the Imployments, Places, and Offices resign'd unto them be∣fore the last Troubles, or since; for which they have not been able to ob∣tain Letters Patents, by reason of the said Troubles, the which said Imploy∣ments and Offices have in the mean while been granted to others; they also requesting the reimbursement of the Money paid by them for the same, either into his Majesty's Ex∣chequer, or to the Resigners. It has been declar'd, That upon their gi∣ving his Majesty an account of the particulars of the Cases in question, his said Majesty will remedy the same, and cause Justice to be done unto them.

XXX. The Officers of Justice shall also decide the particular Debate and Request of the Parties, about the

Annihilation desir'd by those of the said Religion, and others who have been ingag'd in their Party of the Leases, made by them of their Estates and Inheritances, since the said 24th of August, in order to re-enter into the Premises, returning the Fines by them receiv'd.

XXXI. His Majesty's Officers in the City of Rochel, the Mayor, She∣riffs, Consuls, Common-Council, and other Inhabitants of the said Ci∣ty shall be continu'd and maintain'd in their Ancient Rights and Privi∣ledges; and shall neither be prose∣cuted, molested, or troubled for their Orders, Decrees, Imprison∣ments, both within and without the City, the Execution of their Judgments afterwards, as well up∣on the account of some pretended Enterprizes attempted against the said City, in December 1573. as by a Ship, call'd the Swallow, and the Execution of the Judgments given against those that were on Board of her, or for any other Acts what∣ever, of all which they shall be ab∣solutely discharg'd. They shall have no other Governor but the Senes∣chal, neither shall any Garison be put into the said City and Govern∣ment.

Neither shall any be put into the Cities and Places belonging to the Government of Languedoc, except such as had Garisons in the time of the late King Henry.

XXXII. His Majesty shall confirm the Declaration granted by the late King to the Inhabitants of Pamiers, professing the said Religion, for the Annihilation of the Decrees given for some Excesses committed in the said City, in the Month of June, 1566. and the said Declaration shall be presented to that end to his said Ma∣jesty.

XXXIII. The keeping of Eight hundred men, to be paid by his said Majesty, has been granted to the said King of Navar, and others of the said Religion, to put into the Cities that are allow'd them for their safe∣ty; in which his said Majesty shall not be allow'd to put any Governor, or other Garison. And he shall al∣so Charge the Governors and Lieu∣tenant-Generals of his Provinces, that whenever they shall pass through the same to visit them, they shall avoid all occasion of dispute with those of the said Religion.

XXXIV. The said King of Navarre shall present unto his said Majesty, those he shall design to employ for the guarding of the said Cities, the which shall be employ'd there accord∣ingly by him: And in case any of the said persons so employ'd, should behave themselves insolently there, and abuse their said Office, not ob∣serving the said Edict of Pacification, the said King of Navarre shall be obli∣ged to turn them out, and to present others to his said Majesty, to be put in their place.

XXXV. The City of St. John d' Angeli shall be left to the Prince of Condé for his Abode, during the Time and Term of Six Years, until he may effectually enjoy his Govern∣ment of Picardy, in which his Majesty will have him continued.

XXXVI. The said Prince shall promise unto his said Majesty, well and faithfully to keep the said City of St. John; and at the end of the

time abovesaid, the same to redeli∣ver, together with the Castle, into the hands of the person deputed by his Majesty to that end, in the same condition it now is, without any in∣novation or alteration, and without the least delay or difficulty, upon any account whatever. Moreover, it is his Majesty's Will and Pleasure, That all the Ecclesiasticks shall freely return into the said City, perform Divine Service freely, and enjoy their E∣states, together with all the Catho∣lick Inhabitants; and the said Prince shall take all the said Ecclesiasticks and other Inhabitants under his Pro∣tection and Safeguard, to the end that they may not be hindred from performing the said Divine Service, molested or troubled in their Persons, or in the enjoyment of their Estates, but on the contrary, restor'd to the full possession of the same.

XXXVII. The said Prince of Con∣dé shall present and nominate unto his said Majesty, the Person to whom he shall trust the keeping of the said City, to the end that Letters-Patent may be granted him for the same by his said Majesty, as it has been done heretofore.

XXXVIII. For the Guard and Safety of the said City, shall be al∣low'd to the said Prince 50 men, maintain'd at his Majesty's Charge, besides the Dividend the said King of Navarre shall allow him out of the 800 men that are left to him for the Guard of the other Cities; his said Majesty willing that the 850 men al∣low'd as aforesaid to the said King of Navarre, and Prince of Condé, shall be employed for the Garison of the said Cities, as it has been agreed; and that they shall be employ'd no where else, without express Com∣mand from his said Majesty, to avoid oppressing of his people, and to re∣move all cause of Jealousie from a∣mong his Subjects: His said Majesty also meaning, that the said 850 men shall be disbanded at the expiration of the Term allow'd, and the time of the Restitution of the said Ci∣ties.

XXXIX. By the General Articles, the City of Montpellier is left in keep∣ing to those of the said Religion, for the Retreat and Safety of those of the County of Languedoc; but his said Majesty means it, in case the said City be still in the hands and in the power of those of the said Reli∣gion, on the day these Articles shall be granted and sign'd in this City of Bergerac, and not otherwise; in which case, instead of the said City, his Majesty shall allow them another, of those that are at present within their Power in the said Countrey of Lan∣guedoc, at their Choice.

XL. His said Majesty shall write to his Ambassadors, to require and de∣sire for all his Subjects of whatever Religion they be, That they may not be troubled as to their Constience, nor be liable to the Inquisition, in going and coming, Negotiating and Trading throughout all Spain, Italy, and other Foreign Countries, Allies, and Confederates of this Crown, provided they do not offend the Ci∣vil Government.

XLI. All Pieces of Ordinance be∣longing to his said Majesty, that have been taken during the present or pre∣cedent Troubles, shall be immediate∣ly restor'd, and put into his said Ma∣jesty's

Magazines; except such as are in the Cities given for Surety, which shall remain in them; an Inventory being made of the same, in order to their being restor'd at the Expira∣tion of the aforesaid Term of Six Years.

XLII. Whereas, if all that has been done against the Regulations on both sides, were indifferently except∣ed out of the General Pardon, there is no man in the Army but might be prosecuted and troubled, which might occasion new Troubles; it has been thought fit to grant, that none but execrable Crimes shall be except∣ed out of the said General Pardon; viz. Ravishments of Women, Incen∣diaries, Murthers, Robberies com∣mitted treacherously, and out of pri∣vate Revenge, against the Laws of War, Infraction of Passports and Safeguards, together with Murthers and Plunders without Command; out of consideration to those of the said Religion, and others who have been engag'd in the Party of the King of Navarre, or the Prince of Condé, grounded upon particular occasions that have oblig'd them to command and order it.

XLIII. It shall be ordain'd, That whatever shall be taken on either side by way of Hostility or otherwise, up∣on any acconnt whatever, proceeding from the present Troubles, from and upon the 17th. of the present month, on which the Articles have been granted, agreed upon, and sign'd, in this City of Bergerac, shall be lia∣ble to Restitution and Civil Repara∣tion.

XLIV. As for the City of Avignon, and Venaissin County, his Majesty de∣siring that the Inhabitants thereof may share and enjoy the fruit of the Peace he hopes to settle in his King∣dom by the assistance of God, both out of consideration to our Holy Fa∣ther the Pope, and because the said City and County have always been under the Protection of the Kings his Predecessors, and that it is a thing very material towards the establish∣ing of the said Peace in the adjacent Provinces; his said Majesty will in∣treat his said Holiness to allow the Subjects of this Kingdom, who have Estates in the said City of Avignon, and County, as also to the Subjects of the said City and County, who are of the said Religion, to be re∣stor'd and reestablish'd into the entire and peaceable Injoyments of their Estates, which they have been de∣priv'd of upon the account of the Troubles past, and of the said Reli∣gion, without their being liable to be troubled in the said Possession up∣on the said account. Which being done, those who occupy and detain at present in the said Country, Cities, and Places, belonging either to his Holiness, or his Subjects, shall be oblig'd to deliver them forthwith, and without delay, into the hands of such as shall be nominated by his said Holiniess for that purpose: For the effecting of which the King of Navar, and the Prince of Conde shall dispatch a Gentleman on purpose to those that are detainers of the said places, to signify the same unto them, and to require and order them to obey; which in case they refuse to do, the said King of Navar, and Prince of Conde, do promise both in their Names, and in the Names of

those of the said Religion, and o∣thers, who have been ingag'd in their Party, neither to Aid, Com∣fort, or Assist them. His Majesty al∣so promises, That in case after the Restitution and delivery of the said Places in the hands of such as shall be ordered by his said Holiness, any of his Majesty's Subjects having Estates in the said Cities and County, or of his Holiness's Subjects professing the said Religion, should be disturb'd in the injoyment of their said Estates upon the account of the said Religi∣on, he will grant them Letters of Mart and Reprisal upon the Estates that are possess'd by the Subjects of the said City and County of Avig∣n••n, in the Countries under his Obe∣dience, which Letters shall be direct∣ed to that end to the Judges to whom of Right the Cognizance of such things appertains.

XLV. The Sums that are necessary to be rais'd for the payment of what is due to the * Reisters, both for the present and precedent Troubles, shall be impos'd equally upon all his Majesty's Subjects. And whereas those of the said Religion pretend that the main part of the Money de∣stin'd for the payment of the said Reisters for the precedent Troubles was rais'd before the 24th of August, 1572. and was taken from them and remitted, and that his Majesty might by surprize have made a Gift of the said Money to some particular Persons; It is his Majesty's Pleasure, that those who have had the said Money on any account, and under any pretence, shall be oblig'd by lawful and rea∣sonable means to restore the same: And that whatever Receivers, and others, who have still Money of that kind in their hands, shall also be oblig'd to deliver it forthwith into the hands of his Majesty's Receivers-General, and that by Imprisoning of them if necessary: Upon the ac∣count of which his said Majesty has, and does discharge those of the said Religion, of all Obligations and Promises made and given by them upon that account, both to his said Majesty, the Reisters, and all others.

XLVI. The said King of Navar, and those of the said Religion having made Application to his said Majesty for the payment of the Reisters due to the said John Casimir, his Colonels and Rent-masters: His said Majesty has declar'd, That he will en∣deavour to do it as soon as ever the necessity of his Affairs will permit him.

XLVII. And as to the Six hundred thousand Livers which those of the said Religion say were allow'd them* 1.1 by the last Peace, to impose upon, and raise among themselves, in or∣der to pay some Sum due by them; It has been granted them, That in case they can produce the said per∣mission, and make it appear, that nothing has been rais'd by them by Virtue thereof, and that the Sums for which it had been granted are still due, the said permission shall be confirm'd by his said Majesty.

XLVIII. The Prince of Orange shall be restor'd to all the Lands, Jurisdi∣ctions, and Lordships he has in this said Kingdom and Territories, under his said Majesty's Obedience. In like manner shall be restor'd to him all Titles, Instructions, and other

Papers concerning his Principality of Orange; in case any have been taken and remov'd by the Governors, and Lieutenants-General, and others his said Majesty's Officers, if what is a∣abovesaid has not been done al∣ready.

The present Articles have been made and granted by express Com∣mand from the King, in his Majesty's Name, and by his pleasure, by the Duke of Montpensier, and the Sieurs de Biron, Descars, S. Sulpice, de la Mothe-Fenelon, by vertue of the power given unto them by his said Majesty, to conclude and agree about the pacifi∣cation of the Troubles of this King∣dom on the one part. And by the King of Navar, the Prince of Conde, and the Deputies of those of the said pretended Reform'd Religion, the said King of Navar, Prince of Conde, and Deputies answering for all those of the Provinces of this Kingdom, Countries, Territories and Lordships under the obedience of his said Majesty, who profess the said Religi∣on, and others who have been en∣gag'd in their Party on the other Part.

In Witness whereof the said Articles have been sign'd with their own hands, in the City of Ber∣gerac, the 17th Day of September, 1577.

Thus sign'd in the Original, Henry de Bourbon, Lewis de Bourbon, Biron, Descars, S. Sulpiae, de la Mothe-Fenelon, La Noue, L. Dufaur, Chancelor to the King of Navar; S. Genis Chauvin, Dufaur, Clausone Deputy of Languedoc, Morin Deputy of Guyenne, Scorbion Deputy of Montauban, Payan De∣puty of Languedoc, and ac∣cording to his power Thore for the Isle of France, De Signo Deputy of Dauphine, Durand Depu∣ty of Guienne, Guyet and St. Beignon for Rochel, Courtois, Deputy of Ven∣domois, Roux, Deputy of Provence, T. Davaux for La Rovergue. Thus sign'd, compar'd de Neufville, and is written, extracted from the Registers of Parliament.

Sign'd. De Pontac.

Compar'd with the Manuscript which is in the King's Library by Me. Coun∣sellor and Secretary of the King, House and Crown of France, and of its Exchequer, of the Ancient College.

Sign'd. Gon.

Notes

• * 1.1

  * Germain Horse.